The ultimate goal of this work is to determine the minimum flow rates necessary for effective transport of sand in a pipeline carrying multiphase flow. In order to achieve this goal, an experimental study is performed in a horizontal pipeline using water and air as carrier fluids. In this study, successful transport of sand is defined as the minimum flow rates of water and air at which all sand grains continue to move along in the pipe. The obtained data cover a wide range of liquid and gas flow rates including stratified and intermittent flow regimes. The effect of physical parameters such as sand size, sand shape, and sand concentration is experimentally investigated in 0.05 and 0.1 m internal diameter pipes. The comparisons of the obtained data with previous studies show good agreement. It is concluded that the minimum flow rates required to continuously move the sand increases with increasing sand size in the range examined and particle shape does not significantly affect sand transport. Additionally, the data show the minimum required flow rates increase by increasing sand concentration for the low concentrations considered, and this effect should be taken into account in the modeling of multiphase sand transport.
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Research-Article
Experimental Study of Low Concentration Sand Transport in Multiphase Air–Water Horizontal Pipelines
Kamyar Najmi,
Kamyar Najmi
1
Mem. ASME
Mechanical Engineering Department,
800 South Tucker Drive,
e-mail: kamyar-najmi@utulsa.edu
Mechanical Engineering Department,
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: kamyar-najmi@utulsa.edu
1Corresponding author.
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Alan L. Hill,
Alan L. Hill
Mem. ASME
Select Engineering, Inc.,
Tulsa, OK 74119
Select Engineering, Inc.,
1717 South Boulder Avenue
,Suite 600
,Tulsa, OK 74119
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Brenton S. McLaury,
Brenton S. McLaury
Mem. ASME
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: brenton-mclaury@utulsa.edu
Mechanical Engineering Department,
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive
,Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: brenton-mclaury@utulsa.edu
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Siamack A. Shirazi,
Siamack A. Shirazi
Mem. ASME
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: siamack-shirazi@utulsa.edu
Mechanical Engineering Department,
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive
,Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: siamack-shirazi@utulsa.edu
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Selen Cremaschi
Selen Cremaschi
Chemical Engineering Department,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: selen-cremaschi@utulsa.edu
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive
,Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: selen-cremaschi@utulsa.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Kamyar Najmi
Mem. ASME
Mechanical Engineering Department,
800 South Tucker Drive,
e-mail: kamyar-najmi@utulsa.edu
Mechanical Engineering Department,
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: kamyar-najmi@utulsa.edu
Alan L. Hill
Mem. ASME
Select Engineering, Inc.,
Tulsa, OK 74119
Select Engineering, Inc.,
1717 South Boulder Avenue
,Suite 600
,Tulsa, OK 74119
Brenton S. McLaury
Mem. ASME
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: brenton-mclaury@utulsa.edu
Mechanical Engineering Department,
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive
,Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: brenton-mclaury@utulsa.edu
Siamack A. Shirazi
Mem. ASME
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: siamack-shirazi@utulsa.edu
Mechanical Engineering Department,
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive
,Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: siamack-shirazi@utulsa.edu
Selen Cremaschi
Chemical Engineering Department,
Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: selen-cremaschi@utulsa.edu
The University of Tulsa
,800 South Tucker Drive
,Tulsa, OK 74104
e-mail: selen-cremaschi@utulsa.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Petroleum Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received August 12, 2014; final manuscript received December 21, 2014; published online February 26, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Reza H. Sheikhi.
J. Energy Resour. Technol. May 2015, 137(3): 032908 (10 pages)
Published Online: May 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
August 12, 2014
Revision Received:
December 21, 2014
Online:
February 26, 2015
Citation
Najmi, K., Hill, A. L., McLaury, B. S., Shirazi, S. A., and Cremaschi, S. (May 1, 2015). "Experimental Study of Low Concentration Sand Transport in Multiphase Air–Water Horizontal Pipelines." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. May 2015; 137(3): 032908. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4029602
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